ā¤ Apple HomePod 14.1 software adds HomePod mini, Intercom support
After nearly two years of no major movement in its smart speaker product line, which itself came years late to the market, Apple has finally announced a half-successor to the HomePod. The HomePod mini isnāt due to ship until next month but isnāt stopping Apple from pushing out a new version of its HomePod software that prepares for its arrival. Software version 14.1, however, which lines up with iOS 14.1 and iPadOS 14.1, isnāt just about the mini speaker but also introduces features that make all HomePods, and Siri, smarter.
With a $99 price tag, the HomePod mini aims squarely at the Amazon Echo Dot and Google Nest Mini markets, leaving people fewer excuses not to sink their teeth into Appleās smart home ecosystem. Of course, thisĀ small smart speakerĀ makes more sense if youāre already hooked into Appleās world anyway or if you find its features just as or even more helpful than the competition.
The HomePodās features havenāt exactly been at the top of the list when it comes to smart speakers but that list has been consistently growing while, some will argue, respect usersā privacy the way only Apple knows how. WithĀ Software version 14.1, for example, HomePod owners and future HomePod mini owners will be able to use a set of speakers as an intercom system throughout the house. Youāll also be able to finally select your preferred music to wake up to in the alarm settings.
Siri is also getting an update in this iteration, like being able to stop alarms and timers across all HomePods in the same network. Web searches can now be started on a HomePad then sent to an iPhone to make a more seamless and convenient transition.
As with previous HomePod software updates, the firmware is automatically installed on the speaker without requiring user intervention. It can also be triggered manually from the iOS app, of course, if youāre are that excited for a smarter and more useful smart speaker.
Alongside iOS and iPadOS 14.1, Apple today released new 14.1 software for theĀ HomePod, which includes a number of new updates such as support for the Intercom feature that allows you to speak to anyone in the home onĀ iPhone,Ā iPad, āHomePodā, and more.
The update also introduces support for theĀ HomePod miniĀ that’s launching in November and it adds newĀ SiriĀ features. āSiriā is able to stop alarms, timers, and media across āHomePodā speakers, and web search requests from āHomePodā can be sent from āHomePodā to the āiPhoneā.
There’s also an option to add music to alarms to wake up to a favorite song or playlist fromĀ Apple Music, and there are multiple reliability improvements.
Software version 14.1 includes support for āHomePod miniā and new āSiriā and Intercom features. This update also includes bug fixes and improvements.
āHomePod miniā
– Setup and automatically transfer yourĀ Apple ID, āApple Musicā, āSiriā and Wi-Fi settings to āHomePod miniāāSiriā
– āSiriā suggestions appear in Maps when you ask āHomePodā for information about a location
– Web search requests to āHomePodā can be sent from āHomePodā to your āiPhoneā
– āSiriā can now stop alarms, timers, and media across āHomePodā speakers
– Voice recognition support for Podcasts for multiple users in the homeIntercom
– Ask āHomePodā to make announcements to other āHomePodā speakers throughout your home
– Intercom to all āHomePodā speakers
– Intercom to a āHomePodā in a specific room or zoneOther improvements and fixes
– Add music to your alarms and wake up to your personal song, playlist, or radio station from āApple Musicā
– Fixes an issue where stereo pairs can sometimes play out of sync
– Improves reliability when using āSiriā to control multiple speakers
– Optimizes āSiriā performance
āāHomePodāāā software is installed automatically on the āāāHomePodāāā
